Gabriella, 59, born in Argentina, immigrated to Israel in the late 1990s, and lives in Jerusalem. She married Moshe Leimberg in 2002 and has one daughter, Mia (17). Gabriella is the sister of Clara Merman (63, from Kibbutz Nir-Yitzhak, kidnapped on October 7, 2023) and Fernando Merman (60, from Kfar Saba, kidnapped on October 7, 2023).

Gabriella completed her master’s degree in psychology in Argentina and works at “Shekel,” a not-for-profit organization, and heads up a therapeutic agricultural farm for children with special needs. 

Gabriella is a warm, caring and considerate woman. She is also the primary care giver for Moshe, her husband due to his health problems. She is very close to her siblings Clara and Fernando Merman, they are in touch daily. 

On Saturday, October 7, 2023, Gabriella and her daughter Mia (+ dog Bella), were at her sister’s home in Kibbutz Nir-Yitzhak to celebrate the birthday of Clara’s granddaughter. They entered the safe room after hearing the red alert sirens, along with her brother Fernando and sister’s partner, Louis Herr. Hamas terrorists broke into the house and kidnapped everyone in the safe room.  All contact with them was lost around 11:00 AM.